Want to improve services across health and care? Become a DHSC service assessor

If you work in digital, data or technology across health and care, chances are you’ve come across the Government Service Standard.

It’s the backbone of how we design services that actually work- for real people, in real situations. It helps teams stay focused on user needs, build accessible services, and keep improving over time.

At the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), service assessments bring this to life.

They’re a chance to pause, reflect, and sense-check - giving teams the space to step back and ask: are we really solving the right problem, in the right way?

Assessments aren’t just about assurance. They’re about learning, sharing, and raising the bar together

Why become a service assessor?

Service assessments bring together people from different disciplines to explore how a service works, challenge assumptions, and ask thoughtful questions.

The goal?Simple, practical advice that helps teams build better services.

Being an assessor isn’t just about supporting others - it’s a brilliant development opportunity for you too.

As an assessor, you’ll:

Deepen your understanding of the Service Standard in action See how teams work across government and health Learn from a wide variety of services and challenges Connect with experts from different organisations Bring fresh ideas back to improve your own work

Put simply - you grow while helping others grow.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from user researchers, designers, tech leads and technical architects, product leads and performance analysts.

What experience do you need?

You don’t need to know everything - but you should have:

A good working knowledge of the Government Service Standard (Service Standard) Experience of working in your role An understanding of how it applies across alpha, beta and live phases

You can apply if you work in:

Government departments The NHS Arm’s length bodies

If you’re a contractor, you’ll need to be on a longer-term contract and apply via your host organisation email. (Please note: As this is a voluntary role, make sure your line manager is aware of - and supports - the time commitment)

What to expect from the training

You will attend a five-hour online training session followed by shadowing one or two assessments. This gives you a clear understanding of how assessments work - and the confidence to contribute meaningfully.

Get involved

Email dhsc.digitaltechcontrols@nhs.net to request an Expression of Interest form. (Please note: As this is a voluntary role, make sure your line manager is aware of - and supports - the time commitment)

This is a voluntary role - but it’s a meaningful one.

Once trained, you’ll be expected to:

Take part in at least two assessments each year Complete pre-reading ahead of each session Attend the assessment (usually around 4.5 hours) Contribute to panel discussions and the final report

Afterwards, you’ll typically have about a week to provide your input. It’s a small-time investment with a big impact.

Together, we can shape more inclusive, effective services that truly make a difference.

https://digitalhealth.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/26/want-to-improve-services-across-health-and-care-become-a-dhsc-service-assessor/

seen at 14:40, 26 June in Digital health and social care.